Vlad Sedler is joined by FTN Fantasy Baseball analyst and reigning NFBC Auction Champ, Mike Mager. Vlad and Mike discuss the recent signings of Christian Walker and Max Kepler and dive into the starting pitcher player pool, reviewing the top 30 via NFBC ADP.

Episode Overview

Mike's Auction Primer preview

Recent Transactions

• Christian Walker, Astros
• Max Kepler, Phillies
• Gio Urshela, Athletics
• Hoby Milner, Rangers and the likelihood of signing Kirby Yates
• Sandoval (BOS), Soroka (WAS), Canning (NYM) - no, thank you

Early Player Pool Thoughts - Top 30 Starting Pitchers

• Comparing Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal
• Zack Wheeler vs. Logan Gilbert
• The X-Factor, Jacob deGrom
• Garrett Crochet helium
• Overall FILTH arsenal grades
• Expectations for Snell, Yamamoto, Glasnow
• Old Reliable, Corbin Burnes
• Dylan Cease vs. Cole Ragans
• The 3 Twins - Lopez, Ryan, Ober
• Sasaki, Schwelly and the rest of the top 30

Please help us by rating and reviewing the podcast. We would greatly appreciate it!

The 2025 FTN Fantasy Baseball Guide is out!

Join www.ftnfantasy.com for the best fantasy baseball content, rankings, projections and fantasy tools!

Use code HOLIDAYEDGE for 15% off Fantasy Baseball+ or a High Stakes Baseball subscription.

A sample of our preseason fantasy tools:

• FTN VDP Projections (Jan): Fueled by Vlad, Frank Brank (CDO) and Russ Prentice
• Uploadable Roto Rankings: Vlad Sedler’s VDP: Top 500, sort, up/download; updated weekly
• Underdog Rankings: Best Ball points-based rankings fueled by VDP Projections
• Biery’s Offseason Tracker: Transactions and fantasy implications, managed by Lucas Biery
• FILTH Leaderboard: Leaderboard for FTN’s FILTH metric which quantifies SPs’ pitch quality
• 12-Team Grid Rankings (Jan): Vlad’s famous 12-team grid rankings by position
• NFBC Cutline Rankings (Jan): Points contest ranking fueled by VDP Projections
• NEW: Relievers on the Rise Tracker (Jan): Tracking all draft-worthy RPs > 250 ADP
• NEW: Custom Rankings Tool (Feb): For your league format, built-in with our projections

Vlad Sedler (@rotogut) is joined by FTN Fantasy Baseball analyst and reigning NFBC Auction Champ Mike Mager (@bronxyankees23). Vlad and Mike discuss the projected fantasy impact of the recent free agent moves and trades for the Yankees, Red Sox, Orioles, Dodgers, Mets and more. There are some strong feelings about Kyle Tucker in Chicago, and a discussion about the fantasy value of Athletics and Rays players based on their new 2025 home ballparks.

Fantasy Implications of Recent Free Agent Signings and Trades

• Expectations for Max Fried in the Bronx
• Devin Williams' ADP bump
• Which big corner infielder the Yankees are signing
• Garrett Crochet, the new SP4?
• Hendriks or Aroldis or other?
• Tomoyuki Sugano: not just a guy
• Michael Conforto career season incoming? Expectations for Tommy Edman
• Willy Adames, # 2 hitters for the Giants
• The Truth about Kyle Tucker
• Soto and all those arms in Queens

New Home Parks

• Left field in Walltimore and the fantasy impact
• Value of Lawrence Butler and Brent Rooker
• The Rays' lefty bats
• Projections for Pete Fairbanks and the Rays' bullpen
• Is Jeffrey Springs still a thing?

An homage to Kyle Schwarber

Please help us by rating and reviewing the podcast. We would greatly appreciate it!

The 2025 FTN Fantasy Baseball Guide is out!

Join www.ftnfantasy.com for the best fantasy baseball content, rankings, projections and fantasy tools!

Use code HOLIDAYEDGE for 15% off Fantasy Baseball+ or a High Stakes Baseball subscription.

A sample of our preseason fantasy tools:

• FTN VDP Projections (Jan): Fueled by Vlad, Frank Brank (CDO) and Russ Prentice
• Uploadable Roto Rankings: Vlad Sedler’s VDP: Top 500, sort, up/download; updated weekly
• Underdog Rankings: Best Ball points-based rankings fueled by VDP Projections
• Biery’s Offseason Tracker: Transactions and fantasy implications, managed by Lucas Biery
• FILTH Leaderboard: Leaderboard for FTN’s FILTH metric which quantifies SPs’ pitch quality
• 12-Team Grid Rankings (Jan): Vlad’s famous 12-team grid rankings by position
• NFBC Cutline Rankings (Jan): Points contest ranking fueled by VDP Projections
• NEW: Relievers on the Rise Tracker (Jan): Tracking all draft-worthy RPs > 250 ADP
• NEW: Custom Rankings Tool (Feb): For your league format, built-in with our projections

Vlad Sedler and Jason Anthony are joined by the best fantasy baseball player in the world, Phil Dussault. The trio break down the first NFBC 12-team OC of the fantasy season that both Phil and Vlad were in. This episode went off outline, covering a variety of interesting topics related to early draft strategy, player analysis, roster construction, and assessing market value. If you love talking about fantasy baseball year-round, this episode is for you. It's also guaranteed to immediately bolster your fantasy baseball IQ.

Topics Discussed:

• Drafting before setting our own projections and rankings
• The early OC with Vlad and Phil (a Waxman sandwich)
• Avoiding biases from setting in (aka, Pfaadtology)
• The early catcher strategy
• Playing time for the young Cardinals
• Surf or Turf for TON in Toronto
• Correa vs. the MI field
• Gladiator closers vs. DC closers (not a Marvel movie)
• Pivetta or Flaherty on the Nationals
• Jordan Romano is big mad, but is he healthy?
• The Rays have 27 starting pitchers going 3-4 innings each
• "Why draft Reliever X in Round 10 when you can draft Reliever Y in Round 45" - The Robot